Tag Archives: Harrisburg City Council

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 20, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Happy Holidays to all of our Burg readers! In the midst of the festivities and busy-ness, take some time to check in on all of our community coverage from this week that you may have missed, our gift to you.

Bob’s Art Blog wraps up the year with some final artsy thoughts, featuring artists from Carlisle and Harrisburg.

The Broad Street Market announced that it is seeking a new market manager, our online story reported. The manager will oversee day-to-day operations of the market.

The Broad Street Market’s turnaround from last year’s fire and financial turmoil is commendable, says our publisher. He gives credit to the community for supporting the market through its challenges.

Dauphin County passed its 2025 budget, which included a property tax raise for the first time in 20 years, our online story reported. The increase will help fill a budget deficit.

Gifting local items is the perfect way to find one-of-a-kind treasures, while supporting your community. Our writer rounds up all of the best Harrisburg-area giftables, here.

Harrisburg has extended its Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement program, which aims to incentivize development. In his editorial, our publisher encourages the city to improve the much-needed initiative.

Harrisburg passed its 2025 budget, which includes no tax increase, our online story reported. The $142 million general fund budget includes infrastructure investments and personnel costs.

Heinz-Menaker Senior Center petitioned Harrisburg to give it some of its federal COVID relief money, our online story reported. The center’s director said that without financial support, the center may need to close.

Honey Bear Ice Cream opened in the Broad Street Market, our online story reported. The vendor offers dairy-free, gluten-free scoops and treats.

Lamont Jones, a Harrisburg City Council member, has announced his bid for mayor, our online story reported. Jones said he is running on the ideas of “change” and “progressive leadership.”

New Year’s Eve celebrations will return to downtown Harrisburg on Dec. 31, our online story reported. The festivities will include the traditional strawberry drop and fireworks.

Open Stage and Dr. David Bronstein, an arts advocate, have received Theatre Harrisburg’s Arts Awards, our online story reported.

Sara Bozich has her list of weekend events ready for you, here.

The Susquehanna Chorale announced its new director as Michael McCarthy, our online story reported. He was the former director of music at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where he led their choirs for 21 years.

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Harrisburg passes 2025 budget; no tax increase in plan

December 18, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday

Harrisburg has solidified a spending plan for the new year.

City Council on Tuesday approved a 2025 general fund budget of $86.9 million, which does not include a property tax increase.

The total budget equals $142 million, including a $21.7 million neighborhood services fund budget, among other budget categories.

Some of the largest expenditures in the 2025 budget include personnel costs and capital expenditures, such as roadwork and construction. Specific projects include money for the Broad Street Market rebuild and the FNB Field stadium upgrades for the Harrisburg Senators, which are both expenditures supported by grant funding.

City officials also previously told TheBurg that the budget is still impacted by post-pandemic challenges such as a loss in parking revenue, business privilege taxes and property taxes, all affected by remote work. This year, officials said, federal COVID funds, interest accrued from those funds and cost-saving measures like in-house construction work help offset the losses.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council members made amendments mostly to salaries and raises for city employees. Council eliminated proposed raises for several positions in the office of the mayor, saying that role responsibilities did not change to warrant an increase, and for the deputy director of treasury. For the latter, council expressed frustration that the treasury office’s hours would not be extended to match city hall hours. Council also lowered numerous other proposed raises for manager-level positions that were over 2%.

Additionally, council eliminated the city-funded portion of the interim director of building and housing development’s salary, about 10% of the overall salary, the rest of which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Council members justified the decrease by saying that they haven’t seen substantial work completed under interim director Gloria Martin-Roberts’ leadership and that they believed she has exceeded her time in what should be a temporary position, along with other concerns.

Additionally, council decided to remove funding for the Police Bureau’s director of community engagement and relations position, which has been vacant for several months, but was due to have a new director beginning work in the coming weeks. Council members said that they believed the position was repetitive and unnecessary.

In other small changes, council voted to add funding for two part-time advisors to council’s youth commission and added $59,000 to the host municipality fee funds, which may be used to help fund a new Harrisburg youth sports program.

Council made other small amendments before voting, 5-1, to approve the budget. Council member Shamaine Daniels voted against the budget, and Council member Jocelyn Rawls was not present.

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Harrisburg senior center appeals for city funds to keep it running

December 17, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Executive Director Les Ford addressed media and community members at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center.

A Harrisburg senior center is pleading with the city for funds to remain open.

At a press conference on Tuesday at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, Executive Director Les Ford made his case for why the center should receive a portion of Harrisburg’s federal COVID relief money.

In November, the city proposed giving $250,000 of its share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, which is currently in Harrisburg’s general fund, to the senior center. That money was originally earmarked by City Council to go to senior programming. However, council had concerns about how the decision was made to award the total allocation to Heinz-Menaker and why there was no application process for the funds.

City officials and Heinz-Menaker representatives stated that Heinz-Menaker is the only full-service, stand-alone senior center in the city, while members of council stated that according to Dauphin County information, there were several others.

According to Ford, the center, which opened in 1992, will not be able to operate for much longer without the funds.

“We are in a crisis right now. We accrued debt during COVID, specifically related to COVID activities,” he said. “We did our part to help during COVID. Now, we are looking to build back better.”

Ford said that the center has long relied on county, state and local funds to stay afloat, but began to really struggle financially during the pandemic, as they ramped up their Meals on Wheels services and other community assistance.

With the city money, Ford said, the center could pay off its debt accrued during COVID and begin building back its programming.

“It really shouldn’t be a discussion,” said Eric Jackson, a pastor at Kingdom Embassy Church in Harrisburg. “There should’ve been at the top of the list, a priority, this particular center.”

Without an infusion of funds, the center may be able to make it into the new year, relying on remaining county COVID-relief funds, but will likely run out of money to operate in the first quarter, Ford said.

“I would be downhearted,” said Mildred Watts, who crochets hats for premature babies and weaves mats for the homeless in the center’s craft room. “This is my life in here.”

Several council members have stated that they don’t have an issue with Heinz-Menaker receiving funds, but rather have concerns about why all of the money is being given to them.

Ultimately, council has to vote on how to distribute the $250,000 in ARPA money for senior programming.

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Burg View: A Better LERTA

December 16, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

A developer long has had plans to build apartment buildings on these empty lots on Reily Street, one of many unrealized residential projects in Harrisburg.

When it comes to housing, Harrisburg is in a strange place. Demand is strong, but little new supply has come onto the market.

Enter the city’s Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement (LERTA) program. Narrowly passed in 2015, the program was supposed to incentivize residential construction by offering developers a 10-year property tax abatement.

Only it hasn’t worked well at all.

Recently, Jason Graves, director of economic development for the city, told City Council that, in the past three years, only about 10%—43 out of 426 eligible projects—applied for the program.

Meanwhile, city-approved building proposals line Harrisburg’s streets—single-family, duplexes, apartment buildings—but almost nothing has been built (with the notable exception of several affordable buildings, which, often subsidized, have different economics than market-rate projects).

So then what’s the problem?

In general, it’s two-fold.

First, the recent building environment has been brutal. With rising construction costs and interest rates, slim-margin projects that may have been viable pre-pandemic no longer are.

But, secondly, even before COVID, the city’s LERTA program was not functioning as intended—as an incentive for builders, especially for new construction, which has tougher qualification requirements than renovation projects.

This problem was already obvious back in 2017, when TheBurg published a feature story about the program. Even in that lower-cost environment, potential builders were bypassing Harrisburg’s LERTA due to conditions it placed on new construction, such as mandating the prevailing wage (government project) rate, which, they said, raised costs so much that any potential benefit was limited or even nullified.

I applaud both the administration and City Council for recently extending the current LERTA program for an additional year as they conduct an assessment. Yes, this review should have already occurred, as the program was due to sunset at the end of 2024, but a late response is better than none at all.

As the city conducts its assessment, it should focus on what works, as opposed to trying to appease interest groups, which resulted in the strictures that doomed the 2015 effort. After all, if no one is using LERTA, what’s the point of having it at all?

In the end, LERTA is no guarantee that Harrisburg will get the new housing it so badly needs, but it is one tool in the toolbox, along with possible reforms to zoning, density, parking minimums, etc.

In 2025, the administration and council have a golden opportunity to build a better LERTA. For the sake of the city’s future, I hope they take it.

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 13, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams at a press conference this week.

This week’s news brought several hyper-local stories, delivering readers information about water bills, budgets, city government, real estate and events. That’s what we love to do here at TheBurg—share with our readers everything they need to know about their community. If you missed any of it, we’ve gathered our stories, below.

Affordable housing is sorely needed in Pennsylvania, said developer George Fernandez in a Community Comment. To bridge the gap between immediate needs and long-term solutions, Fernandez makes the case for more initiatives that are readily available and quick to execute.

Annie Hughes will serve as the newest board member for the Harrisburg School District’s board, our online story reported. Hughes was appointed to the seat left vacant by Jim Thompson, who recently passed away.

The Broad Street Market approved a healthy $513,524 budget for 2025, our online story reported. The spending plan includes money for infrastructure improvements, a new manager position and marketing.

Capital Region Water approved new budgets and rates for 2025 which will increase the average customer bill by about $3.45 per month. Find out more, here.

Christkindlmarkt will return to Linglestown this weekend for the sixth year. In our magazine story, find out more about the outdoor German Christmas market that features vendors selling handmade crafts and German and festival food.

Harrisburg City Council extended its Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement (LERTA) program, which gives tax break incentives to developers, our online story reported. Additionally, council weighed a plea for financial support from the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center.

Harrisburg High School student athlete Messiah Mickens was named the 2024-25 Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Pennsylvania, our online story reported. The program annually recognizes one winner in each state across 12 high school sports.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau will continue to increase its patrol around the Harrisburg School District following an assault on a student, our online story reported. The city held a press conference to discuss the matter this week.

Home sales slowed down, but prices rose slightly in November in the Harrisburg area, our online story reported. For the three-county region, 474 homes sold compared to 492 in November 2023, as the median sales price rose to $275,000 from $259,500.

Sara Bozich is feeling festive with a lineup of holiday events for the weekend, here.

Wildheart Ministries in Allison Hill spoke out against the Harrisburg School District’s decision to halt the nonprofit’s operations on a district-owned farm property, our online story reported. Since May 2023, the district leased its property at 213 S. 18^th St. to Wildheart, which called the property The Hill Farm and utilized it for educational programs and farmers markets.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

November 29, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Santa will be a very guest at the SoMa Christmas Market on Sunday in downtown Harrisburg.

It’s been a busy week around TheBurg, as the December issue dropped just before Thanksgiving. Pick up a copy of the new magazine and, while you’re at it, review our reporting from the past week, which is listed and linked below.

TheBurg’s publisher welcomes readers to the December magazine with his introductory note, which offers a brief review of 2024 and a look ahead to next year.

Harrisburg introduced its proposed 2025 budget last week, without a property tax increase. According to our online story, the overall budget is about flat with the 2024 spending plan.

Harrisburg City Council gave its nod to a plan for a housing development for homeless veterans last week. The approval came despite a need to move a popular hiking trail, according to our reporting.

Harrisburg School District has approved a proposal to hire its own police force. Our online story details what that will look like and the next steps.

Peschel Press may be small, but its influence is strong, says our features writer. Learn about the local couple who have turned their interests into a specialty publishing house.

Sara Bozich has your long weekend plan, with plenty of events to kick off the heart of the holiday season, according to her weekly column.

Serendipity Stitch should be on your holiday shopping radar, says our magazine feature. Read about the mother/daughter team behind the shop, which recently relocated to Carlisle.

Shop local is the mantra for Small Business Saturday, and who better to advise you than our own Sara Bozich? She shares her local “favorite things” with Burg readers as the shopping season gets serious.

SoMa Christmas Market returns for a second year, with an outdoors holiday celebration on Sunday in downtown Harrisburg. Check out our online story for the details.

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Harrisburg proposes 2025 budget; no property tax increase planned

November 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.

Harrisburg has proposed a spending plan for the coming year.

On Tuesday, Mayor Wanda Williams presented her $87 million general fund budget proposal for 2025, which includes funding infrastructure projects, the Broad Street Market rebuild and regular operational costs.

The budget does not include a property tax increase.

“As in previous years, this budget is fiscally sound and responsible,” Williams said. “This administration continues to invest in the residents of Harrisburg.”

In total, the proposed 2025 budget equals $142.6 million, including a $21.7 million neighborhood services fund budget, among other budget categories.

Last year’s 2024 adopted general fund budget was $109.4 million, and the overall budget totaled $141 million. While the proposed general fund budget is lower this year, other fund areas are higher, bringing the total budget close to last year’s.

According to Budget Manager Timothy Brooks, personnel costs and capital expenditures make up some of the largest budget expenses this year. For the former, the city has to accommodate contract-obligated raises for staff, as well as raising salaries to account for inflation, Brooks said. Capital expenditures, such as roadwork and construction are another significant budget item, though the city has taken some of that work in-house, which saves money, he said.

Money-saving strategies such as that are important, especially as the city still deals with post-pandemic challenges like a loss in parking revenue, business privilege taxes and property taxes. The lingering remote work culture affects those revenue sources, as fewer people come into the city to park, work, shop and dine regularly, and as owners of largely empty office buildings seek property tax reassessments.

According to Business Administrator Samuel Sulkosky, those issues are affecting cities nationwide, as well as Harrisburg.

In the proposed 2025 budget, items like reduced debt service payments, due to the city paying off significant debt in 2023, freed up funds to make up for the revenue losses, Sulkosky said. Other sources like federal COVID funds and grants fill in gaps, as well. Even things like about $3.5 million in interest accrued from the city’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, some of which sits in the general fund, help, he said.

Other “big ticket” items on the proposed budget include costs associated with the Broad Street Market rebuild and the FNB Field stadium upgrades for the Harrisburg Senators, explained Bryan McCutcheon, accounting manager. Both of those expenditures, however, are supported by grant funding on the revenue side.

Broad Street Market spending is estimated to be about $6 million this year, with about $4.5 million in insurance money to help cover it. For the Senators’ project, the city received a $6 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the commonwealth, which covers about half of the total project cost.

Harrisburg City Council will hold budget hearings to discuss the proposal in-depth on Dec.3, 4, 10 and 11. Each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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Two apartment proposals receive approvals from Harrisburg Planning Commission

November 7, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

This building is slated to become Front Street Lofts.

A Harrisburg commission has approved two projects that would add more than 50 new apartments to the city.

On Wednesday night, the city Planning Commission approved land development plans for both a 48-unit senior housing project on Allison Hill and an eight-unit apartment project in a historic building downtown.

First, the commission unanimously supported the plan for an eight-unit office-to-residential conversion at 315 N. Front St., a circa-1850 building that long housed a law firm.

The project, called Front Street Lofts, calls for six one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units. According to developer Vernon Jones, six of the units would be market-rate and two would be deemed affordable.

The project also includes 10 parking spaces—four on site and six more off site, which would be leased.

“[Parking] is really, really hard for my neighbors,” said a South Street resident, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 30 years, at the meeting. “Some are elderly, and they have to park far, far away to bring their groceries home.”

Jones pointed out that 10 spaces exceeds the city’s requirements for the project.

“We want to go above and beyond,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we had more than enough parking to satisfy any concerns with the local community.”

With planning commission approval, the land development plan now goes before City Council for final approval before the project can begin.

Next, the commission considered the land development plan for Woodward Lofts, a proposed affordable senior housing development on a large empty lot at N. 18^th and Boas streets.

The site of Woodward Lofts (file photo)

The Latino Connection Foundation proposes building a 48-unit building on the former site of Woodward Elementary School. The building would include a community room, a small dog park and food and clothing banks for residents.

Last year, at a well-attended community meeting, the project received considerable pushback from neighbors, who expressed concern over parking, safety and preserving green space. Several neighbors reiterated those issues on Wednesday before the planning commission.

“Parking is horrendous,” said nearby resident Michael Brown. “What are we going do about the parking? They’re fighting for parking right now.”

The proposal includes 48 off-street parking spaces, which is more than required by the city for this type of project.

Another neighbor expressed concern over traffic and density, adding that area children often use the lot for recreation.

“We oppose this whole situation because we feel it’s going to have a negative impact in our community,” said resident Patricia Banks. “Our children use that space. They enjoy the green. Why can’t we keep it green?”

The grass-covered lot has been vacant since the school district demolished the century-old building in 2016. Fernandez Realty Affordable Homes purchased it last year from the Harrisburg School District for $240,000.

At the commission meeting, Amber Borelli, the foundation’s interim executive director, said that, in 2023, they held two community meetings, making some design modifications as a result.

“We presented the new design, and the neighbors seemed to be in agreement with that, the ones that were present,” she said.

Subsequently, they went door to door in the neighborhood and left door-hangers about the project, Borelli said.

Nonetheless, some residents at the meeting maintained that the outreach effort was insufficient.

“It was only a few people, it wasn’t the whole neighborhood, the second time that they met,” Banks said. “But the first time at the church, everybody was there, and there were like—no.”

Several planning commission members expressed sympathy for the neighbors’ concerns but added that the property is privately owned, so is eligible for development. In addition, they said, a senior housing complex should be lower impact than other types of lower-income housing or commercial development.

“Unfortunately, once the property left the ownership of the school district, the market will dictate what goes there,” said commissioner Shaun O’Toole. “I believe that this is definitely better than a Dollar General or Dollar Tree or even just a regular 40-unit apartment building.”

In the end, the commission unanimously approved the land development plan, which now goes to City Council for final discussion and approval before the project can break ground.

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October News Digest

September 27, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Forster Street Project Begins

Construction to calm traffic along a major Harrisburg roadway began last month.

The city started its Capitol Gateway project along Forster Street from N. Front to N. 2nd streets, which includes installing traffic-calming features and signal updates.

The $1.7 million project first surfaced in 2020, when City Council approved the submission of a grant application for federal transportation funds. The city received the grant later that year through the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS).

According to officials, around the time when the project first was discussed, the area was the most crash-prone in the city. Traffic calming features will include adding curb bump-outs and enlarging the median to give pedestrians space to stand if they are unable to cross the street in time. There will also be traffic signal updates at Forster and N. 2nd streets.

The right turning, or “slip lane,” from Forster to N. Front Street will be eliminated.

JVI Group, the project contractor, will work through the end of October to make sidewalk and curb improvements then break for the winter. They will return in the spring to finish work, including street milling and paving.

“We are excited to finally begin work on the Capitol Gateway project,” said city Engineer Joel Seiders. “Between traffic coming into the city from the West Shore, leaving the city from the Capitol Complex, or using beautiful Riverfront Park, this section of Harrisburg is one of the most heavily traveled every day. Once this project is complete, it will be safer than ever before to walk, bike and drive in this area.”

Forster Street will remain open to through-traffic during construction but will be reduced by one lane in each direction. Pedestrian traffic will be detoured.

Apartment Project Gets Approval

A dormant downtown Harrisburg apartment project is springing back to life, as the developer has had the project re-approved.

Last month, the city Planning Commission, for a second time, approved a land development plan for the Veterans Building, located at 112 Market St.

Harristown Development Corp. is proposing converting the 125-year-old, eight-story, vacant office building into a 48-unit residential building.

In 2021, the commission approved the conversion of the 51,000-square-foot building to 35 one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus first-floor retail space. However, following the approval, construction costs rose quickly, so the project never began, according to Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown.

“One of the reasons we haven’t gotten this project finished yet, when we first started, pricing kind of went haywire—interest rates and construction prices kind of went haywire,” Jones said, at the meeting.

Harristown has now redesigned the $8 million project with 48 one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from about 600 to 1,000 square feet. The new plan excluded first-floor retail space, proposing to absorb that space into the residential component.

Last month, the commission unanimously reapproved the plan, but on the condition that Harristown retain some retail space on the first floor.

“I can easily see an opportunity for a coffee shop or a small something that activates that corner,” said commissioner Vern McKissick.

Harristown, Jones said, is amenable to retaining some first-floor retail. The company doesn’t yet have a timeline for the project, which also must be re-approved by City Council.

Schools Superintendent Hired

The Harrisburg School District has selected a new top official.

Dr. Benjamin Henry will soon step up as the new superintendent of schools, following a summer-long search, the district has announced.

Henry fills the post left vacant by previous superintendent Eric Turman, who resigned and took a job as the superintendent of the Central Dauphin School District. Following Turman’s resignation, receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, as acting superintendent.

Henry’s four-year term begins on Nov. 1, with Stokes continuing in the role in the meantime. The district has set Henry’s salary at $199,500.

Henry brings over two decades of experience in public education, according to the district. He served as the regional assistant superintendent of Polk County Schools in Florida for the past four years, overseeing 29 schools. Before that, he held jobs as a special education teacher, a middle school math teacher and a principal. Henry was also appointed by the governor to serve on the state’s Education Ethics Committee.

Park Pavilion Proposed

Harrisburg may get a new entertainment pavilion in one of its main parks.

The city has submitted a grant application to the state for funds to construct a pavilion in Riverfront Park for use during city festivals and events.

City Council unanimously approved the ratification of a grant application submission to the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development for $117,228 for the structure.

The proposed multipurpose pavilion would be built in the park near the Civic Club of Harrisburg’s building near North Street. According to city Grants Director Rebecca Vollmer, the concrete bandshell would be similar to the pavilion in Italian Lake Park.

The stage would be used for city events such as Kipona, Artsfest and July Fourth and could be rented out to the Civic Club and other organizations to bring revenue to the city, Vollmer said.

Vollmer said that the city currently pays around $17,000 to $21,000 for stages for festival entertainment each year.

If the grant is awarded, the city would be required to match 15% of the total project cost, about $18,000. Vollmer expects that the city, within a year, would make back that money by not having to rent a stage.

Area Home Sales, Prices Rise

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both increased in August, per the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, 651 homes sold versus 604 in August 2023, as the median sales price climbed to $297,000 from $284,298, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 309 homes in August, an increase of 10 houses, as the median sales price grew to $270,000 from $255,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 300 home sales, up from 279 the prior August, as the median sales price rose to $327,250 from $308,000, GHAR said.

In Perry County, 47 homes sold compared to 25 last August, as the median sales price shot up to $300,000 from $242,000, according to GHAR.

The pace of sales slowed a bit, as the “average days on market” totaled 23 days, versus 19 days a year ago, GHAR said.

So Noted

Andrew Bomberger last month was named the new executive director of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC), which provides land use and transportation planning for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties. Bomberger has served with TCRPC for 10 years and succeeds Steve Deck, who retired in August.

Broad Street Market has received a $350,000 grant from the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development to make upgrades to the stone building and offset operational costs. Projects include repairing the roof, which frequently leaks, and possible HVAC upgrades to the building, according to market officials.

Jazzy’s Good Eats opened last month at 912 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg, relocating from space in Kline Village. From the snug storefront, owner Jasmine “Jazzy” White serves fried fish, fried chicken, turkey wings, mac and cheese and greens, among other southern-style staples, for takeout-only.

Matt Maisel, Harrisburg’s communications director, resigned last month to take a position with Penn State Health. In recent months, the city has lost several other top officials, including former Business Administrator Dan Hartman, former Finance Director Marita Kelley and former Building and Housing Director Dennise Hill.

Men in the Kitchen, a York-based restaurant, plans to expand into Harrisburg, opening in the former Firehouse restaurant at 606 N. 2nd St. Co-owners Justin Coleman and Kyle Moore expect to open in November, serving Cajun cuisine, seafood and other signature dishes from inside the circa-1871 Hope Fire Station building.

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects last month was selected to serve as the architect/engineering firm for the rebuilding of the Broad Street Market’s brick building. City Council unanimously confirmed the selection of the York-based company in a contract valued at $1.3 million. The historic building burned and closed in a July 2023 fire, and the reconstruction is expected to take at least two years.

Changing Hands

Allison St., 1506: Treasurehunt Home Investments LLC & New Harvest Solutions LLC to N. Portoreal & T. Amparo, $148,000

Apricot St., 1711: J. Shook & C. Walter to ADR Equities LLC, $57,000

Bailey St., 1224: S. Chase to A. Scott, $53,000

Bailey St., 1242: Real Estate Investment Associates of PA LLC to 1242 Bailey LLC, $59,000

Berryhill St., 1329: N. Sandoval & Amado Investment LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $105,000

Berryhill St., 2242: A. Giambanco & A. Lebron to C. Johnson, $115,000

Boas St., 1616: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to E. Ramirez, $85,000

Brookwood St., 1938: S. Cobb & R. Gantt to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $57,000

Chestnut St., 1928: TPH Asset Management LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $80,000

Chestnut St., 2200: G. Forsyth to D. Fuller & K. Pinet, $259,000

Chestnut St., 2406: K. Quimby to Z. & R. Madar, $310,000

Christian St., 1230: C. Disla to R. Adon, $110,000

Crescent St., 425: Real Estate Investment Associates of PA LLC to TMH Family Trust, $59,000

Croyden Rd., 2926: A. Guerrero to B. Gidey, $150,000

Derry St., 2014: Two Three Two Investments LLC to S. Laroc, $134,000

Division St., 503: M. Grossman to H. Moyer, $159,900

Division St., 515: BCR 2 Properties LLC to V. Peralta, $165,000

Green St., 1412: Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC to 1412 Green LLC, $225,000

Green St., 1732: A. Christian to J. Holderman, $225,000

Green St., 1943: D. & K. Wadlington to M. Smith, $272,500

Hoffman St., 3232: M&T Bank to P. Morocho, $84,000

Holly St., 1846: Adonis Real Estate LLC to A. Fernandez, $152,000

Hudson St., 1140: A. Ciucci to D. Hockenberry, $192,000

Hummel St., 342 and 1508 Hunter St.: E&K Homes LLC to M. Gabrielle, $178,332

Hunter St., 1607: S. Scott to O. Perez, $140,000

Kensington St., 2263: KDR Investments LLP to 248 S. Quince St. LLC, $92,000

Kensington St., 2430: REO 2021 NR4 LLC to 248 S Quince St LLC, $95,725

Kittatinny St., 1215: S&P Property Holdings LLC to 1215 Kitt Harrisburg LLC, $650,000

Lexington St., 2560: HBG Rents LLC to A. Hariri & Y. Alrosan, $145,000

Liberty St., 1412: J. Espaillat to Mau Properties LLC, $90,000

Maclay St., 243: BLTN Properties LLC to Numbee Realty LLC, $197,500

Manada St., 2029: M. Loja to G. Tavera, $130,000

Market St., 1736: D. Seldon to A. Peralta, $70,726

Market St., 1826: J. & R. Mallory to A. Linan, $80,000

Market St., 2024: S. Gonzalez to M. Curry Nixon, $187,000

Melrose St., 706: J. Grant to EA Capital LLC, $115,000

Mulberry St., 1907: G. & G. Kennedy to V. Rijo, $65,000

Muench St., 633: G. & O. Daley to 248 S. Quince St. LLC, $108,000

North St., 1907: M. & B. King to BS JR Realty LLC, $115,000

N. 2nd St., 925: B. Pupo to A. Dufton & P. Margrave, $270,000

N. 2nd St., 3118: D. Inghilterra to B. & J. Orsinger, $436,000

N. 3rd St., 222, 230; 229 Court St.; and 228, 230 Cranberry St.: Musalair Trust to Cranberry WP LLC, $1,800,000

N. 3rd St., 2126: D&L Development Group Inc. to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $177,000

N. 3rd St., 2244: G. Gonzales to R. & T. Bbalo, $169,000

N. 4th St., 2433: Good Connect LLC to R. Sanchez, $82,500

N. 5th St., 2501: J. Castro to Y. & D. Disla, $170,000

N. 5th St., 2733: C. Carey to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $86,000

N. 5th St., 3138: L. Confer to W. Renn, $189,900

N. 6th St., 2227: Peace Casa LLC to S. Laroc, $110,000

N. 6th St., 2601: J. Kates to DTJ Associates LLC, $50,000

N. 6th St., 3144: C. Koser to A. Pellegrini, $118,000

N. 6th St., 3157: R. Wickham to N. & J. Cline, $150,000

N. 6th St., 3601 (rear): C. & F. Acri to CF Acri & Son Inc., $630,000

N. 15th St., 227: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to Narrow Gate Investments LLC, $99,000

N. 15th St., 1337: C. & B. Grier to 1337 North 15th LLC, $50,000

N. 15th St., 1511: Ink Properties LLC to J. Folks, $90,000

N. Front St., 315: J. Boswell & J. Piccola to Front Street Lofts LLC, $633,000

Peffer St., 435: J. & D. Cummings to E. & I. Applyrs, $170,000

Penn St., 1200: K. Barder to J. & J. Blair, $205,000

Penn St., 1830: J. Lucas to L. Wood & T. Miller, $189,900

Race St., 550: A. Thompson & R. Farquhar to R. Thompson, $173,000

Race St., 612: D. Amaguayo to M. Burtner, $250,000

Randolph St., 1616: KDR Investments LLP to L. Chavez & M. Gonzalez, $70,000

Reel St., 2400: Franklin Real Estate USA Inc. to G. Munoz, $170,000

Regina St., 1825: F. & E. Metellus to J. Francois, $103,000

Ross St., 626: Casareal Developments LLC to E. Ramirez, $65,000

Rudy Rd., 2446: Capital Realty Guild LLC to EA Capital LLC, $100,000

Penn St., 2138: Oasis Property Investment LLC to N. Scott, $200,000

Seneca St., 253: L. Diehl to G&W Rentals LLC, $105,000

Seneca St., 638: A. Hurt to Noraziza LLC, $83,000

S. 12th St., 1519: 1&H LLC to N. de Cruz, $145,000

S. 15th St., 433 & 437: J. & C. Snook to Aharon Steinberg LLC, $114,000

S. 15th St., 435: J. & C. Snook to 435 S 15th LLC, $57,000

S. 15th St., 540: E&R Realty Legacy LLC to M. & S. Mejia, $122,000

S. 16th St., 439: J. Snook & C. Walter to 51 Hidden Glen LLC, $57,000

S. 19th St., 1338: B. Skaggs to B. Camacho, $159,900

S. 29th St., 512: 512 S 29th St LLC to 512 Singh LLC, $600,000

State St., 231, Unit 804: C. Houck to H. Martinson, $195,000

Swatara St., 1917: Two Three Two Investments LLC to A Ventura Construction LLC, $82,500

Swatara St., 2408: J. Suszko to JTA Consulting Group LLC, $140,000

Verbeke St., 1613: A. Powell to R. Sanchez, $82,500

Vernon St., 1421: C. Valencik to Mau Properties LLC, $129,000

Walnut St., 1724: A. Bouhach to F. Valenzuela, $103,000

Wiconisco St., 409: Central PA Buyers LLC to R. Rivera, $161,000

Zarker St., 1415: TPH Asset Management LLC to J. Vanderhorst, $81,000

Harrisburg property sales, greater than $50,000, August 2024. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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The Week that Was: News and Features around Harrisburg

September 13, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Gloria Vázquez Merrick of the Latino Hispanic American Community Center

It looks like a busy, beautiful weekend ahead. Before you head out the door, catch up on our news from last week, all listed and linked below.

“Cabaret” opened to a rapt audience at Theatre Harrisburg’s Krevsky Center last weekend. In her review, our theater writer describes why this show is so special.

Coda Rouge is a new Harrisburg restaurant in an elegant setting. In our magazine feature, we explain the owner’s unexpected journey from contractor to restaurateur.

Family outings are even more fun in the spectacular weather of September. Our “Adventure Together” columnist has several great ideas for a very promising weekend.

Fleetwood Mac is in focus at Open Stage’s musical tribute to the iconic 1970s-era rock band. Discover the story behind the show and what to expect if you attend, from our magazine feature.

Gallery Walk 2024 is in the books, and it was one for the ages, says our arts blogger. In his latest post, he reviews how the day went for several key art venues in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices ticked higher in August, according to the latest report on previously owned houses. Check out the latest data in our online story.

Harrisburg City Council had a lengthy list of questions about a city emergency declaration, and the administration countered with a terse response. Our online story outlines what the dispute is about.

Latino Hispanic American Community Center has a new home and new energy, says our magazine feature. LHACC kicks off National Hispanic Heritage month with a parade and festival this weekend.

Matt Maisel, Harrisburg’s director of communications, announced that he’ll be leaving his post, according to our online story. Find out what’s next for one of the city’s most visible public figures.

Public Safety Day took place last week in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, said our online story. The midday event gave the public information on staying safe and even offered leads for pursuing a career in the field.

Sara Bozich has a busy weekend ahead, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Whitaker Center. Find out about these and many other events in her Weekend Roundup.

Whitaker Center celebrated its silver anniversary all week long, capped off with a block party and gala this weekend. A recent Q&A with the executive director touches on where the downtown arts and science center has been and where it’s going.

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